Little Luka heralded as a hero

Six-year-old Luka has been hailed a hero after his quick thinking saved his mother’s life during a late-night diabetic emergency.

It was the middle of the night when type 1 diabetic Adriana Di Domenico woke up sweating, shaking and beginning to have a diabetic seizure.

A single mum of two young kids, all she could do was call out for help and hope one of her boys would wake up.

Little Luka did, running into his mum’s room and asking her if she was having a hypo.

“I’ve taught him what to do in this situation since he was probably two years old,” Adriana said.

“When I have my insulin pump or my continuous glucose monitor on, if he hears a beeping sound, he’s aware that means mum’s having a hypo.

“Most of the time, I can treat it myself. But in times when I can’t, I’ve taught him to get mum some orange juice straight away from the fridge or a teaspoon of honey, and to either hand it to me or to put the honey in my mouth.

“But this time was very different because the hypo was severe and it was in the middle of the night.”

Bravely, Luka remembered what to do and gave his mum some honey and juice and used her phone to call Triple Zero (000). He knew what to tell the call taker, to ask for an ambulance and tell them their address.

Luka turned on the lights to help paramedics find the house and then met the AV crew at the door, figuring out how to unlock it so they could get inside.

Paramedic Hailey MacDonald said she was incredibly impressed by Luka’s assistance.

“At only six years old, Luka demonstrated exceptional courage and presence of mind,” Hailey said.

“His quick thinking helped save his mother from an even more serious diabetic emergency.

“Hypoglycaemia can escalate into a serious emergency very quickly if not treated, so Luka’s fast action ensured his mum got the care she needed as soon as possible and ultimately, was able to safely remain at home.”

Paramedics provided Adriana with additional glucose to stabilise her blood sugar levels and monitored her to ensure her condition improved.

They developed a follow-up care plan which allowed Adriana to stay home and avoid an unnecessary trip to hospital, including to follow up with her endocrinologist and to call Triple Zero (000) if her condition worsened again. They also checked her insulin pump was working correctly.

Hypoglycaemia (hypo) occurs when blood sugar levels drop too low, while hyperglycaemia occurs when blood sugar levels are too high.

Symptoms of hypoglycaemia can include weakness, trembling, shaking, sweating or dizziness, which can develop into a life-threatening diabetic emergency if not treated by having quick-acting glucose.

If someone becomes unconscious, drowsy or unable to swallow, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

“Most people with diabetes can manage their condition effectively with a care plan from their GP and by informing family and friends what symptoms to look out for and how to treat it,” Hailey said.

“Something as simple as some jellybeans, fruit juice or a few teaspoons of honey, like Luka gave to Adriana, can be enough to improve blood glucose levels and prevent a medical emergency.”

Adriana said she couldn’t be prouder of her son.

“I get so emotional because without him, I wouldn’t be here,” she said.

“He was so brave. I can’t thank him enough as he truly is my hero. He was happy when he got an ice cream that afternoon for his courage!

“It’s really important for parents that have diabetes to teach their children what to do in an emergency – it might save your life.”